GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE FIRST
REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD: POTATO CYST
NEMATODE IN
QUEBEC AND ALBERTA
-
The Government of Canada is pleased to respond to the report of the House of
Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (SCAAF) on the Potato
Cyst Nematode (PCN) crisis in Quebec and Alberta. The Government shares the
Committee’s commitment to address the needs of the potato sector facing
transition, regulatory constraints, pressures on short-term liquidity and long
term competitiveness challenges.
-
The potato is one of the most important vegetable crops in Canada, accounting for
35% of all vegetable farm cash receipts or $987 million in the 2008 calendar
year (up 14% from 2007). In the late 1980s, the Canadian potato
industry started a spectacular expansion as the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement
came into effect. Annual potato
production almost doubled from 2.88 million metric tonnes (MT) in 1989 to 5
million MT in 2007 and harvested acreage increased by 58% from 114,500 hectares
to 162,000 hectares. Historically, potato production was concentrated in the
eastern provinces. After the late 1980’s, potato production shifted west.
Expansion on the Prairies has been remarkable and is a direct result of
developments in the French fry sector, proximity to North American markets for
processed products as well as availability of land, water and capital required
to invest in specialized machinery and storage facilities. Production in
developed countries, especially in Europe, has declined on average by 1%
per year over the past 20 years. However, output in developing
countries expanded at an average rate of 5% per year. Asian countries,
particularly China and India, fuelled this growth. Although prices in Canada
have stayed relatively consistent since 2003, the increase in world production
may have a negative impact on prices in the future as Canada will compete in
many of the same export markets and with increasing competition from low wage
countries.
-
In 2008, potatoes accounted for 50% of all fresh vegetables consumed in Canada. Total
potato consumption has been declining in recent years, falling from 75.09 kg
per person in 1996 to 65.84 kg in 2008. The decrease per capita in potato
consumption resulted from various dietary trends and negative consumer
perceptions about its nutritional value, even though potatoes remain a healthy
food product.
-
The Canadian potato industry is highly export oriented. The expansion
of the Canadian potato industry was also strongly linked to value of the
Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar. The major
expansion came between 1993 and 2002, when the value of the Canadian dollar was
relatively low. Since 2003, a
higher Canadian dollar has contributed to a slower expansion of the Canadian
potato industry.
-
Canada's total exports for
table, seed, processed and frozen potatoes during the 2007-2008 crop years were
C$1.1 billion. Imports totaled C$251 million resulting in a net positive trade
balance of C$849 million. The export value of fresh and processed potatoes
represents 30% of all exports of fresh and processed vegetables. The United States is Canada’s main export
market with approximately 80% of the value of
potatoes and potato products. Alberta exports $256 million (65% to the US) and Quebec exports $26
million (88% to the US) worth of potatoes.
-
There
were approximately 62,550 acres of certified seed potatoes grown in Canada in 2007 estimated
at $325 million. Alberta seed potato growers represent
approximately 16% of the total certified seed potato acreage grown in Canada and Quebec
accounts for approximately 10% of Canada’s production.
-
There are opportunities to further develop potato export markets by building on Canada's great reputation as a
supplier of high quality safe goods. Canada has enjoyed a large market share in countries such as Cuba
and the Dominican Republic, but lately this market share has been decreasing due to lack of promotion
and market specific variety development. Innovation and promotion by
competitor countries, such as the Netherlands, has reduced the visibility and
benefits of buying Canadian potatoes and has allowed our competitors to
increase their market share by competing against and displacing Canadian
potatoes in traditional export markets. Through the development and promotion
of market specific varieties, increasing the visibility of Canadian
representatives in foreign markets and improving on after sales services, the
Canadian potato industry sees opportunity to improve.
-
The Canadian potato industry is well organized and has recognized the need to
support export market development. The Potato Committee Executive of the
Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) has supported joint industry/government
benchmarking research.
-
On October 7, 2008, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), in partnership with
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the CHC established the PCN Task
Team. The Task Team has built on the strong industry/government relationship
already established and has made a significant contribution to resolving issues
surrounding PCN. The Task Team consists of government representatives from
AAFC, CFIA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT),
members of the provincial governments, industry representatives from each
affected potato producing province and the CHC. Co-chaired by both industry
and government, the PCN Task Team has provided an opportunity for industry to play
a large role in the management of this critical issue. The Task Team also
serves as a coordinating body which set priorities such as: reopening the US border to
Alberta seed potatoes, sustainable market access, development of PCN
surveillance guidelines, transparent communication with producers,
identification of research needs and development of a
transition/re-establishment approach. Discussions with affected producers in Quebec and
Alberta have been held separately to expedite the assessment of transition/re-establishment
assistance needs. The PCN Task Team Industry co-chair and President of the
Potato Committee Executive of the CHC sent a letter stating his appreciation
for the work and contribution the PCN Task Team has made to facilitate the negotiation
process.
RECOMMENDATION 1
The Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Agri-Food recommends that the federal government renegotiate
with the Government of Québec payment of the requested financial assistance of
$24 million, representing less than 80% of estimated costs of $30.7 million for
a 10-year transition plan.
-
The Government recognizes that St-Amable potato farms affected by Golden Nematode
face important financial challenges related to the discovery of the
infestation. To help them cope with the immediate impacts of the discovery,
these potato growers received close to $8 million in financial assistance from
both federal and provincial governments. This included special assistance that
was implemented to complement existing programming, more specifically the
Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) and its replacement by the
AgriStability program, to deal with specific extraordinary costs. This
assistance was important to help them recover from the discovery and control
the extent of the disaster.
-
Further
to the initial $8 million, a $5 million transition assistance package was
developed under AgriRecovery in order to assist these farms with transition
costs that are not covered under existing programming, such as carrying costs on
potato-related assets and access to advisory services. Consequently,
governments have committed close to $13 million to help the 21 affected farmers
in Quebec cope with this nematode crisis. This amounts results in an average
of approximately $600,000 per farm business.
-
AgriStability
is the primary response to address producers’ margin losses, including those
associated with any disaster event. An AgriRecovery program could be developed
and implemented in a disaster situation to provide a rapid financial response
to assist with immediate recovery from a disaster situation, to help producers
quickly resume business operations after a disaster; and to enable short-term
actions to minimize/contain the impacts of the disaster on producers. Where
long-term restrictions are placed on a property due to a disease or pest
situation by a government authority, an AgriRecovery response can be developed
to help producers manage the transition to a new production.
-
AAFC offers other programs that may help affected farms in
their transition. These programs, more specifically the
Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), the Developing Innovative
Agri-Products (DIAP) initiative and the Agricultural Flexibility Fund, offer
financial assistance for farmer-developed
projects. Farmers will be informed of these programs and federal
officials will be in a position to assess any financial request related to
specific transition projects against program criteria on a timely basis.
RECOMMENDATION 2
The Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Agri-Food recommends that the government keeps working closely
with the United States to finalize and establish as soon as possible clear
protocols for the removal of regulatory restrictions on fields no longer
infected with Potato Cyst Nematode and consequently remove the regulatory
controls on the implicated Alberta fields, in order for farmers to resume
potato production and maintain their business.
-
On June 3, 2009 the CFIA and United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed the revised guidelines for PCN that will
allow for the continued trade of seed potatoes between Canada and the US. These revised PCN
Guidelines were amended based on recommendations from an Independent
International Science Panel on PCN and extensive consultations with industry.
Canada and the US worked closely with industry representatives to revise the PCN guidelines, through the
PCN Task Team which included representatives from federal and provincial
governments, and industry representatives from each affected potato producing
province. The revised PCN guidelines are based on sound science and require
that both countries take similar precautions to protect against the spread of
PCN, and include procedures to maintain continued market access for potato
farmers.
-
The CFIA and USDA recognize that continually improving survey
strategies and enhancing the required phytosanitary measures when PCN is
detected are key to preventing the spread of this pest. These revised
PCN guidelines allow for the harmonization of PCN survey strategies and the
PCN-related certification of seed potatoes. The guidelines also now include directions for
investigating suspect PCN detections and clear directions for the safe removal
of regulatory restrictions placed on PCN-associated land after extensive soil
sampling and testing is completed to allow the land to return to unrestricted
potato production. .
-
The harmonized regulatory and surveillance approaches to PCN in Canada and the US will
benefit potato producers in both countries. For example, the
harmonized approach will mean “suspect” or “positive” fields found here in Canada will
not automatically result in border closures. The revised guidelines also
eliminate province and state-wide restrictions and will ensure regulatory
actions focus on the affected field and associated ones, as opposed to the farm
unit. Canada
and the U.S. worked closely with industry representatives in revising these
guidelines and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that they are implemented.
-
As specified
in the revised PCN guidelines, removing restrictions on PCN-regulated land is
done in a phased approach which is based on extensive survey results and field
risk assessments. The CFIA immediately began implementing the revised guidelines
by removing the equipment soil cleaning requirements on most Alberta PCN
regulated fields and continues conducting the second extensive survey of these
fields. Results from this second extensive survey will allow for the removal
of all remaining restrictions on most of the Alberta PCN regulated fields if
PCN is not detected.
-
Surveys are being completed on a priority basis and the CFIA has begun releasing some
Alberta PCN exposed fields as negative results become available, an extensive
impact analysis is conducted and required stakeholders are informed. The CFIA
was able to lift all remaining PCN related restrictions on the first three high
priority Alberta fields in early July, 2009. The CFIA will continue to release
additional PCN exposed fields from all remaining PCN regulatory requirements as
survey results become available and when it is supported by an associated risk
assessment.
RECOMMENDATION 3
The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food also recommends that the
government changes the directives in the AgriStability program reference
margins for those implicated farms whose business has been adversely affected
by CFIA regulations. The affected farms reference margins will be frozen
at 2006 levels for five years while the farm business is given the opportunity
to return to profitability.
-
AgriStability has been designed specifically to be compliant with WTO rules which specify
that margin-based programming must be calculated using a reference margin that is based on either
a straight three-year average or an Olympic five-year average of past margins.
As such, the proposed approach to freeze reference margins at a 2006 level for
five years would not be consistent with our international trade obligations and
could possibly jeopardize the classification of the disaster component of the
program as green under WTO domestic support regulations.
-
Additionally, the intent of AgriStability is to provide income stabilization for year to year
fluctuation in producers’ incomes. This program has been effective in
responding to producers affected by the discovery of PCN and is expected to
provide between $2.5 million and $5.0 million for the 2007 and 2008 program
years to Alberta seed potato producers. The program is not, however, designed
to address long-term transitional issues such as those facing producers
affected by the discovery of Potato Cyst Nematode in Alberta and Quebec.
To address the transitional needs faced by these producers AAFC has been using its
suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs under Growing Forward. This
suite of programming includes AgriRecovery which has provisions to address the
specific long term transition needs of the affected producers. To date the
AgriRecovery Framework has been used effectively to develop and implement joint
Federal/Provincial program responses for both the producers in Alberta and Quebec.
-
Under AgriRecovery any response would look at the specific
transition/re-establishment needs of the affected producers. Now that the PCN Task Team has
completed work on the more short term issues involved with the development and
ratification of PCN guidelines, it will be able to focus its attention more on
strategic longer term issues such as the needs of the affected producers in Alberta.
AAFC continues to work with its provincial counterparts and affected producers to
determine the specific program needs.
RECOMMENDATION 4
The Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Agri-Food recommends that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
respect its commitments with regards to the recommendations in the December
2008 Auditor General of Canada report and provide the Committee with its action
plan to achieve these objectives.
-
The CFIA agrees with the Auditor General of Canada’s findings in the
December 2008 Report: Managing Risks to Canada’s Plant Resources and has
developed a management response and action plan to address the five
recommendations. The CFIA is committed to implementing the action plan to
address the weakness identified by the Auditor General and to ensure an
effective, integrated risk-management approach to plant and plant product
imports. To demonstrate this commitment, at a recent meeting of the Standing
Committee on Public Accounts, the CFIA agreed to provide the committee with
interim progress reports on the implementation of the action plan.
-
In support of this SCAAF recommendation the CFIA is providing the
Committee with its action plan (see attached document entitled “Management
Action Plan to Achieve an Effective Risk-based Management Approach to Plant and
Plant Product Imports Responding to the Auditor General’s Report: Managing
Risks to Canada’s Plant Resources”) to address the Auditor General’s
recommendations. This action plan, was provided to the Standing Committee on
Public Accounts on June 2, 2009 and includes a status report on the progress
achieved at that time.
DISSENTING OPINION
-
In addition to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food’s
recommendations, a dissenting opinion from the Conservative members of the
SCAAF was included with the Committee’s report. In the dissenting opinion, the
government members had the following recommendations.
Dissenting Opinion Recommendation 1
That the federal government in
cooperation with the provinces deliver a comprehensive package to producers
affected by nematode.
-
The government is in agreement with the dissenting opinion. Governments
have provided significant financial assistance through a comprehensive package
to producers affected by the discovery of PCN in Quebec and Alberta.
-
In Quebec, potato farmers have received approximately $8 million in assistance
from Agriculture AAFC and the Quebec government to cover incomes losses, the
disposal cost of unmarketable potatoes, cleaning and disinfection, and
immediate transition costs. These programs included; the federal Golden
Nematode Program developed under the AgriRecovery Framework which provided a
total $1.6 million to specifically deal with this situation. It was
cost-shared by the province through a separate provincial program for $1.0
million. Existing programs, namely the previous Canadian Agricultural Income
Stabilization program and the existing AgriStability programs provided $4.6
million. To assist with the short-term transition (one year) structural change
was waived for the AgriStability program which provided an additional $1.3
million over and above what it normally would have paid. Compensation of $0.6
million was also provided through the Plant Protection Act.
-
Additionally, to assist affected producers in St. Amable with the mid and longer-term process
of transition to a new basis of production, AAFC in consultation with the
province of Quebec developed a transitional response under the AgriRecovery
Framework which is intended to assist producers with the interest costs on new
investment, carrying costs related to potato assets as well as land rental.
For this program the 21 affected producers are eligible to receive $5 million.
Together with the $8 million, federal and provincial governments have
identified a total of approximately $13 million to cover the short term and
long-term transitional issues faced by Quebec producers affected by the
discovery of PCN.
-
Additionally,
both governments are in agreement that this is an appropriate response and are
committed to further help producers through the transition/re-establishment
process where needed through other programming such as: the Canadian
Agricultural Adaptation Program, Developing Innovative Agri-Products
initiative, and the Agricultural Flexibility Fund.
-
The discovery
of PCN and subsequent restrictions imposed by CFIA on the movement of soil also
had severe immediate impacts on three nurseries, which produce such items as
conifers, flowering trees and shrubs and shade trees, in St. Amable area. To assist
these nurseries, a federal/provincial response has been developed which will
make available up to approximately $300,000 under the AgriRecovery Framework to
support these producers with the destructions costs for plants that became
unmarketable and the extraordinary marketing costs they have to incur to ensure
they can continue to market and sell their products. This is in
addition to assistance that was previously provided for C&D and by the
CAIS/AgriStability programs for income losses since the discovery.
-
In response to the discovery of PCN on seed potato farms in Alberta, a
joint federal and provincial response was developed under the AgriRecovery
Framework which provided approximately $16 million to seed potato growers in
Alberta that were affected by the discovery of PCN and subsequent border
closures. AgriInsurance also provided an additional $2.2 million to the
producers that had their seed potatoes decertified by CFIA. To date, there has
been no transitional assistance developed as the situation in Alberta is still
evolving. AAFC will also confirm the commitment by federal and provincial
governments to continue working with affected producers in Alberta to help them
deal with the longer term impacts of PCN as needed.
Dissenting Opinion Recommendation 2
That the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency respects its public statement with regards to the December 2008 Auditor
General report and continues to implement the recommendations therein.
-
The Government agrees with this recommendation, and is committed to
implementing the Auditor General’s recommendations. The CFIA agrees with the
Auditor General of Canada’s findings in the December 2008 Report: Managing
Risks to Canada’s Plant Resources and has developed a management response
and action plan to address the five recommendations. The CFIA is committed to
implementing the action plan to address the weakness identified by the Auditor
General and to ensure an effective, integrated risk-management approach to
plant and plant product imports. To demonstrate this commitment, at a recent
meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in June 2009, the CFIA
agreed to provide the committee with an interim progress report on the implementation
of the action plan in June 2010.
Dissenting Opinion Recommendation 3
That the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency keeps working closely with the United States to finalize the new
proposed PCN Guidelines.
-
The Government agrees with this recommendation, Canada and the US worked
closely with industry representatives to revise the PCN
guidelines, through the PCN Task Team which included representatives from
federal and provincial governments, and industry. On June 3,
2009 the CFIA and USDA ratified revised phytosanitary guidelines for PCN. These
revised PCN Guidelines were amended based on recommendations from an
Independent International Science Panel on PCN and extensive consultations
with industry. The revised PCN Guidelines are based
on sound science and require that both countries take similar precautions to
protect against the spread of PCN, include procedures to maintain continued
market access for potato farmers, and contain agreed upon procedures for
the subsequent removal of regulatory restrictions on land.
-
The revised PCN guidelines harmonize Canada and the US’s regulatory and
surveillance approaches to PCN and will benefit potato producers in
both countries. For example, the harmonized approach will mean “suspect” or
“positive” fields found here in Canada will not automatically result in border
closures. The revised guidelines also eliminate province and state-wide
restrictions and will ensure regulatory actions focus on the affected field and
associated ones, as opposed to the farm unit.
-
The revised PCN Guidelines specify a phased approach to removing
restrictions on PCN-regulated land based on extensive survey results and field
risk assessments. The CFIA immediately began implementing the revised
Guidelines by removing the equipment soil cleaning requirements on most Alberta
PCN regulated fields and is continuing to conduct the second extensive survey
of these fields. Results from this second extensive survey will allow for the
removal of all remaining restrictions on most of the Alberta PCN regulated
fields if PCN is not detected.
-
Surveys are being completed on a priority basis and CFIA has already
began releasing some Alberta PCN fields as negative results become available,
an extensive impact analysis is conducted and required stakeholders are
informed. CFIA was able to lift all remaining PCN related restrictions on the
first three high priority Alberta fields in early July, 2009 and will continue
release additional PCN exposed fields as survey results become available and
when it is supported by an associated risk assessment.
Management
Action Plan to Achieve an Effective Risk-based Management Approach to Plant and
Plant Product Imports Responding to the Auditor General’s Report: Managing
Risks to Canada’s Plant Resources
As requested in the fourth
recommendation of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, this is a copy of the
Management Response and action plan that was provided to the Standing Committee
on Public Accounts on June 2, 2009 and includes a status report on the progress
achieved at that time.
This Management Action Plan addresses all recommendations
contained in the Auditor General’s December 2008 Report, Chapter 4: “Managing
Risks to Canada’s Plant Resources”. It provides detailed actions, that once fully
implemented, will help the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) achieve an
effective risk-based management approach to plant and plant product imports.
The
report from the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) highlighted a number of
significant vulnerabilities, including: a lack of appropriate inter-branch
coordination; inadequate quality management systems; inadequate Agency support
for the plant program in the area of Information Management and Information
Technology (IM/IT); and the lack of quality management processes for
import-related activities.
The
CFIA agreed with all of the audit’s recommendations. To address these
recommendations, this action plan identifies initiatives, timelines,
responsible senior executives, and progress to date. Where appropriate, the
plan also highlights those activities requiring further analysis and/or
consideration.
4.45 Recommendation
The
Agency should develop and implement a formal, risk-based approach to pest
surveys. The approach should link identified risk of existing and potential
pests and diseases with the priority of the survey.
CFIA Management Response
The CFIA will examine ways in which pest surveys can be prioritized in a more
formal manner to better balance trade and commerce needs with the identification
of new and existing pests and diseases. Currently, pest survey design and
prioritization are based on comprehensive risk assessments, the progress and
outcomes are monitored informally during the survey season. The Agency will
align the conduct of surveys under a broader quality management system to
better support accuracy and reliability of survey data.
No. |
CFIA
actions |
Status
of implementation
as
of May 25, 2009 |
Areas
of further analysis / consideration |
1. |
The CFIA will
review and apply risk criteria for pest surveys for use during the survey
season of 2010-11 (Executive Director, Science Strategies Directorate). |
Science
Strategies Directorate will have in place by December 2009, a risk-based
approach to setting survey priorities and allocation. |
The
CFIA needs to explore, with federal-provincial-territorial partners, ways to
expand the scope of surveys. |
2. |
Survey
protocols for pest surveys are being audited and will be revised for the
2010-2011 survey season. (Executive Director, Science Strategies Directorate) |
The
Plant Health Surveillance Unit is working with Quality Management Service
(QMS) officers in Operations on survey audits. Information from these audits
will be used to revise survey protocols.
The
CFIA did 108 QMS Quality Verifications of pest surveys and 183 QMS Quality
Verifications of Plant Import Inspections between April 01, 2008 and March 30 2009. A national team will begin evaluating this data in June 2009. The team
will provide a report to help enhance and broaden the delivery and
performance of these activities across the Agency. |
|
3. |
The CFIA will
eliminate its backlog of requests for risk assessments by March 2010.
(Executive Director, Science Strategies Directorate). |
The
CFIA implemented
a stream-lined process for risk assessment of plants as invasive species.
It
is developing a similar stream-lined process for insects and plant diseases.
An
electronic
database of all previous risk assessments and in-progress assessments will be
put on-line for staff to access. |
|
4. |
The CFIA will
work with its counterparts toward a harmonized risk assessment process for North America. This process will identify best management practices for all phases of risk
analysis (Executive Director, Science Strategies Directorate). |
The CFIA is
meeting with US counterparts in May 2009 to discuss a harmonized risk
analysis process, along with a number of other issues. |
|
4.91 Recommendation
To meet its plant protection mandate, the CFIA, in collaboration with CBSA, should
formally define the performance information it requires from the CBSA, and it
should develop an action plan for obtaining and monitoring the required
information.
CFIA Management Response
The CFIA intends to work cooperatively with the CBSA to fulfill both agencies’
responsibilities and develop an action plan to obtain required information.
No. |
CFIA
actions |
Status
of implementation
as
of May 25, 2009 |
Areas
of further analysis / consideration |
1. |
The CFIA will
revise the Memorandum of Understanding with the Canada Border Services
Agency, to clearly articulate the information and reporting requirements
needed for a risk-based approach to import controls (Executive Directors of
Plant Health and Biosecurity Directorate, and Operations). |
The CFIA and
the CBSA meet regularly on a range of operational issues contained in the
MOU. At a recent meeting of senior officials, they committed to address
information management and reporting. The CFIA is defining its information
and reporting requirement needs.
To
address concerns raised in the OAG report, the CFIA is reinforcing the
importance of the current process for plant regulated products that are
deemed to be high risk. Such shipments are referred to one of the CFIA Import
Service Centres (ISC) for review of documentation and a release
recommendation. If the product requires an inspection at its destination, the
ISC will forward all documents related to the shipment to the appropriate
plant health office for further action. |
The CFIA needs to investigate, with the CBSA, quarantine
facilities to receive all higher-risk products that require inspection. |
4.99 Recommendation
The CFIA should implement quality management systems to provide management with
assurance that the Plant Health Program, as it relates to imports, is designed
to effectively manage risks to Canada’s plant resources and that it operates as
intended.
CFIA Management Response
The CFIA intends to implement broader quality management and informatics systems
within the Plant Health Program, similar to those in place for other CFIA
programs which will better provide management with assurance that the import
component of the Plant Health Program is designed and operates as intended.
The quality management system and national training program will build
upon updated policies and procedures as outlined in the 2007 Plant Health
Import Inspection Manual.
No. |
CFIA
actions |
Status
of implementation
as
of May 25, 2009 |
Areas
of further analysis / consideration |
1. |
The CFIA has
completed the Import Inspection Manual which will improve consistency
in interpretation and application of regulations, policies, and procedures.
(Executive Directors, Operations and Plant Health and Biosecurity). |
Revisions to the Import Inspection Manual were completed in May 2009.
Training of inspectors began in May 2009 and will
be completed by July 2009. |
|
2. |
The CFIA will
implement an integrated and comprehensive application of the quality
management system approach across the Agency. |
A Quality Management System, which includes
assessment of plant program activities, has been developed and implemented
in 08/09. In 09/10, quality verification data will be assessed to determine
potential improvement areas and to develop and implement a comprehensive
improvement plan. |
Implementation of QMS will continue in 09/10
strengthening various components of the QMS. |
3. |
The CFIA will implement a modernized Plant Health
Import Policy that will shift the focus of “inspection at the border” into a
risk-based approach, based on products and country of origin. (Executive
Directors of Science Strategies, Plant Health and Biosecurity, and
Operations). |
Senior officials of the CFIA and the USDA met
(Jan 2009) to re-confirm the mutual commitment to manage plant health risks
to North America. Fifteen projects have been initiated under the North
American Perimeter Approach including projects to manage risk at origin, use
collective resources, harmonize import policies and share risk assessments. |
This is a long-term initiative that integrates
risk assessment and foreign country audits into the CFIA’s role in the
import of plants and plant products. |
4.103 Recommendation
The Agency should complete its assessment of possible information management and
information technology support for the Plant Health Program, and it should
identify options for funding those needs.
CFIA Management Response
The CFIA must implement a consistent approach to assess information management and
information technology needs across the Agency. As part of the approach, the
CFIA is working towards identifying and meeting the business needs of the Plant
Health Program as it relates to imports, and identifying funding options to
meet these priorities. The Agency will identify options for funding its
overall information management and information technology priorities.
No. |
CFIA
actions |
Status
of implementation
as
of May 25, 2009 |
Areas
of further analysis / consideration |
1. |
The CFIA will complete an assessment of business
service requirements and their corresponding information management needs
for the Plant Health Program as it relates to imports, by April 2010
(Executive Director, Plant Health and Biosecurity, and the CIO). |
The CFIA has begun its analysis and will provide
options, costs and recommendations that will meet (in a sustainable manner)
the long-term needs of the Plant Health Program as it relates to imports.
This includes identifying options and approaches for funding. |
The needs of the plant import program are being
considered in the Agency’s review of Agency-wide systems. |
2. |
The CFIA will make essential but limited
investments in current tools and services such as its Import Control and
Tracking System (ICTS). This will provide improved short-term capabilities
to meet the needs of the Plant Health Program as it relates to imports
(Chief Information Officer; and, Executive Director, Plant Health and
Biosecurity). |
The CFIA is working on modernizing information
transactions between field offices and Import Service Centres. |
The work underway by the Office of
the Chief Information Officer on other fundamental Agency systems will
benefit the Plant Health Program, including:
· The Client Identity Data Project, which will improve the CFIA's
client management database. Interim changes to the current client database
(CMS) will benefit the program immediately;
· The electronic certification (E-Cert) system for the import and
export of plant products currently in development is an integral component
of the Plant Health Control and Tracking System project; and
· Plant health components are currently being added to the
Laboratory Sample Tracking System (LSTS). This system, already in
production for a number of other commodities, will enable the tracking of
plant health samples from the point they are taken, through the testing
process to the identification and communication of results to the interested
parties. |
4.109 Recommendation
The Agency should define the level of science, policy, and operations necessary to
fulfill its plant protection mandate as it relates to imports. It should then
determine the level of funding needed to carry out these responsibilities.
CFIA Management Response
The CFIA recognizes the need to continuously review and assess its science,
policies and operational requirements to update its current approach underlying
the Plant Health Program. A review is currently being conducted on the
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Program, which is a component of the Plant Health
Program. The results of this review, as well as other activities, will identify
the level of science, policy and operational activities (and associated funding
needs) for the import component of the Plant Health Program. |